The two countries' officials discussed military ties, the importance of a political and diplomatic settlement in the region

MOSCOW, August 26. /TASS/. Russia’s Deputy Minister of Defense Anatoly Antonov and Japan’s Ambassador to Russia Toyohisa Kozuki discussed the two countries’ military ties, and commended the practice of holding joint military drills and cooperation between Russian and Japanese naval forces, the Russian Defense Ministry’s press service told journalists.

The press service added that at the August 25 meeting, the Russian Deputy Defense Minister and the Japanese Ambassador exchanged their views on the situation on the Korean peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific region on the whole.

"The parties discussed the present level of military ties between the two countries. The practice of holding joint military drills, the consultations at the General Staff level and naval cooperation were assessed as positive. A pattern for multilateral military cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region was outlined", the Russian Ministry’s press service stated.

As the ministry’s source noted, Antonov highlighted the importance of "a political and diplomatic settlement to the situation on the Korean peninsula in order to prevent tensions in North-East Asia".

He also drew the Japanese diplomat’s attention to "the negative impact that the deployment of the US anti-missile shield elements has had on the situation in the region".